I hear from a lot of people who get into ruts with their fitness. Some days it’s much harder to get out the door than others. We’ve all been there! The good news is, there are ways to break that rut and get your motivation back.
- Sign up for a race. Like the saying goes, put your money where your mouth is! Having a goal in place (that you paid to participate in) serves as a great motivator. It’s also pretty painful and discouraging to race without proper training, so setting your eyes on the goal will help get you moving. And pro tip: try signing up for a race that donates to charity. Pick a cause that’s close to your heart and think of the people you’re running and fundraising for! You’ll feel good from the combo of sweat and positive karma.
- Run for time rather than distance. Sometimes the mileage looks daunting. Change it up and run for time instead! Tell yourself you can turn around at the 15-minute point and you’ve got yourself a 30-minute run.
- Enlist a buddy. Why does hanging out with friends have to center on food and/or drinking? Instead of going out to dinner, ask your friend to meet you for a few miles. Chatting with a friend makes the miles pass quicker and setting a meeting time holds you accountable. Bonus: your running friends are actually interested in hearing you talk about running (which can’t be said for the rest of the world).
- Go for a pub run. Is there anything more motivating than knowing there’s a beer waiting for you at the end of your sweat sesh? I feel like society has hit a point where going to the bar red-faced and sweaty in your gym clothes is now socially acceptable (no? just me?). That said, it’s also a great way to try new places and new running loops. For my Syracuse readers: a local bar, Kitty Hoyne’s, hosts great pub runs on Wednesday’s!
- Find a new podcast you love. Music is great, but a podcast can really take you away! You can listen for entertainment or learn something new.
How do you get motivated? What’s the “why” behind your run?